suspecting that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suspecting that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express a belief or feeling that something is true or likely, often without having concrete evidence. Example: "She was suspecting that he was not telling the truth about his whereabouts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A reader might be forgiven for suspecting that memoir mania has really gone too far.

The New York Times - Books

His parents don't approve of this, suspecting that sex is somehow involved.

The New York Times

"We are suspecting that they will find same thing here.

Independent

He refused, suspecting that they would manipulate the video.

The New Yorker

Suspecting that formal charges would be part of that final competition, Banks' group was getting ready.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Stax founder Jim Stewart barred Banks, suspecting that he was trying to lure his songwriters away.

The Guardian

People will start suspecting that she's more shiny than she is bright.

The Washington Post

She saved that one, suspecting that she might already be there.

The New Yorker

Suspecting that the higher protein levels were causing the behavior, the researchers lowered them.

The New York Times - Science

One may be forgiven for suspecting that the heart that failed was in some sense broken.

The New Yorker

"You can't be doing this stuff right here," Wimberly told them, suspecting that they were high.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suspecting that" when you have a reasonable, but not necessarily proven, basis for your belief. It's ideal for conveying a sense of cautious inference.

Common error

Avoid using "suspecting that" when you possess definitive evidence. Opt for phrases like "knowing that" or "confirming that" to reflect a higher degree of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suspecting that" functions as a conjunction phrase introducing a subordinate clause that expresses a belief or hypothesis. It's commonly used to indicate a tentative conclusion based on available information, as shown by the examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

22%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "suspecting that" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express a reasoned, yet unconfirmed, belief. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples across various domains, particularly news, science, and academia. While alternatives like "believing that" or "assuming that" exist, "suspecting that" offers a nuanced way to convey uncertainty based on available information. When writing, remember to use this phrase when you have a reasonable basis for your belief but avoid it when you possess definitive evidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

believing that

Emphasizes a stronger degree of conviction compared to "suspecting that".

thinking that

A more general term for having an idea or belief, less specific than "suspecting that".

assuming that

Suggests a presumption of truth without verification, similar to "suspecting that" but potentially less cautious.

surmising that

Suggests inferring something without conclusive evidence, similar to "suspecting that".

presuming that

Similar to assuming, but can imply a more formal or legal context.

inferring that

Implies drawing a conclusion based on reasoning from evidence, possibly less direct than "suspecting that".

speculating that

Implies forming a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.

conjecturing that

Implies forming an opinion or supposition based on incomplete information.

hypothesizing that

Suggests forming a testable explanation, common in scientific contexts.

guessing that

Indicates a less informed opinion, often based on intuition rather than evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "suspecting that" in a sentence?

Use "suspecting that" to express a feeling or belief about something without concrete proof. For example, "She was suspecting that he was lying about his whereabouts".

What are some alternatives to "suspecting that"?

You can use alternatives like "believing that", "thinking that", or "assuming that" depending on the context and the level of certainty you wish to convey.

When is it more appropriate to use "knowing that" instead of "suspecting that"?

"Knowing that" implies certainty and confirmed information, whereas "suspecting that" suggests a belief or hunch without solid evidence. Choose "knowing that" when you have proof.

What is the difference between "suspecting that" and "guessing that"?

"Suspecting that" implies a reasoned, though unproven, belief based on some evidence or intuition. "Guessing that" suggests a less informed opinion, often made without any particular reason. If you have a good reason to believe something, even without concrete proof, use "suspecting that". Otherwise, if you are making a shot in the dark, use "guessing that".